19-05-2025
People clash over the correct answer to simple maths equation - but which result do YOU think is right?
A maths problem has been going viral online, with people arguing over what the correct result should be.
The issue has arisen as puzzle fans have been coming up with different answers for the question.
It has been shared on a number of social media platforms, most recently X (formerly Twitter), where it was shared alongside a short caption.
The caption simply read: 'What answer y'all get?'
According to one respondent: 'Any answer other than 17 is wrong and your education system failed you.'
However, others found themselves arriving at a different conclusion.
Some believe the answer should be 21, with a number of those who responded to the puzzle on Reddit explaining their thinking.
The question reads:
2 + 5(8 - 5)
There are two main answers people have offered: either 17 or 21.
One Reddit user who found the answer to be 21 shared their reasoning.
They wrote: 'I just add the 2+5 and subtract the 8-5 in the same equation and that gives me 7*3 which is 21, I also know the other method and that it is the right one, I just wanted to see if anyone else is on the same mindset as I am.'
Another added: 'I was always taught do the (8-5) first which is 3 Then 2+5 =7 7*3=21 So I'm sticking with 21.'
Some were simply baffled by the equation.
One wrote: 'Ok, I'm lost...'
The puzzle was shared on Twitter, prompting one maths fan to say that those who came to the wrong answer had been 'failed' by their education system
Another added: 'I thought once you solve the parentheses then you solve the equation from left to right. Because I've done it the Pedmas way and actually got it wrong so which is it?'
However, others revealed their reasoning for coming to 17 as the answer.
It's all to do with using PEDMAS in order to tackle the different components in the right order (some people use the acronym BEDMAS, which uses different words, but represents the same order of operations).
As one Reddit user explained: 'Use order of operations, PEMDAS is an acronym for the words parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.'
Some people thought the solution was 21, and they explained how they had arrived at the conclusion
Another applied the method to the specific question.
They wrote: '2+5(8-5) = 17 because:
'1. You do the parentheses first. (8-5) = 3
'2. You follow the order of operations; use BODMAS/BIDMAS. Since multiplying comes before addition, you then multiply the sum of the last answer by the number of which comes before the parentheses which is in this case is 5. 3*5 = 15
'3. Then add the remaining number to the the previous sum. You now have your answer. 15+2 = 17.'
Those who solved the problem revealed how they used PEDMAS to come to the answer, which is 17
This is not the only viral puzzle which uses PEDMAS to solve an equation.
A simple sixth-grade math equation went viral on X for stumping adults who forgot how to solve a basic problem.
'Can you solve this!?' one X user asked their followers.
The problem read: 16 - 4 ÷ 4 - 4.
The comment section blew up with some internet users claiming the answer was 11, while others saying that it was -1.
A few X users even claimed the answer was 12, some said 0, one answered 13, and another came to the answer of 6.
To solve the equation, you have to reach back into the depths of your brain and use PEMDAS, which stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction.
The acronym represents the correct order to complete a math problem with multiple functions, starting by solving what's in between parentheses. So, can you solve the sixth-grade math problem?
The correct answer to the equation is 11.
To get the answer, four is first divided by itself because division comes before subtraction in PEMDAS.
Four divided by four is one, which now makes the problem 16 - 1 - 4.
Next is just simple subtraction.
Moving left to right, 16 - 1 = 15 and 15 - 4 = 11; thus, the answer to the tricky problem is 11.
The math problem was posted to X, and internet users were divided on the correct answer
Many users who got -1 made the mistake of going in order instead of starting with division.
If you started the equation by subtracting four from 16, you would've ended up with 12 ÷ 4 - 4.
12 ÷ 4 = 3 and 3 - 4 = -1.
Those who accidentally came up with 12, 0, 13, or 6 may've made an error when subtracting or dividing.
19 - 12 ÷ 3 + 1 or this one: 10 × 2 ÷ 4 − 2.
